Tuesday, January 27, 2009

A Goldfinch & Pine Siskin Party

It’s remarkable. North Carolina hasn’t reported so many Goldfinches and Pine Siskins since the mid-nineties. This year, both birds are ruling backyard bird feeders.

It’s also remarkable that two out of every three days this winter have been cloudy and colder than normal in this otherwise consistently sunny state.

A backyard birder south of the city reports one hundred Siskins at a time, every day, all day. There are about two dozen here and I might need to find a part-time job to afford to feed them. The bird traffic here is astounding this winter. The wonder is, “why?”

If they can’t find a spot on a thistle feeder, they go for the black oil sunflower. Unusual.

I also heard there are many Evening Grosbeaks and Purple Finches in our area. My binoculars are ready! And, do I dare suggest I might have a male Purple Finch on that hopper above? Wrong again?

It’s a pleasure to watch the Pine Siskins every day. They don’t scare easily while feeding so I’m able to get a good look at them. Although they’re pretty and plentiful, I must note my special fondness for the Goldfinches.

If birds can be courteous, they are. Goldfinches wait for a spot at the feeders,

rather than bullying their way through the crowd like some others.

They have a calm, quiet, and sweet beauty about them.

They aren’t camera shy, either. I like that!

Ok, that’s enough on Goldfinches and Pine Siskins until next season…promise.

I always wondered if I was seeing Purple Finches, because the pictures in the books all look so similar. Then one day I saw a male Purple Finch, and I thought to myself "Self, nobody who's ever wondered if it was a Purple Finch has ever actually seen a Purple Finch". Did you get that?

I don't think I can get enough about them, Mary. Your photos are awesome. I am only feeding sunflower seeds right now and getting pine siskins, goldfinches, house finches and purple finches. The pine siskins and purple finches are both new birds for me. But I do love the sweet little goldfinch!

Sorry, Mary, still a House Finch. As Corey says, when you finally see a Purple Finch, there will be no doubt. Beautiful pics, as always.

When you are trying to decide between House and Purple Finches, don't look at the shade of red. Look at the flanks and belly for streaking. Any streaks at all, even faint ones, and your bird is a HOFI. Purple Finches have clear, unmarked sides and bellies.

Margaret:Pine Siskins come from way up north, in the boreal forest. Years when the seed crop fails, they come south for the winter. This year has been a remarkable one for Pine Siskins, also crossbills, redpolls and others. This is termed an "irruptive" year.

More on Pine Siskins here: http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Pine_Siskin.html

We've had huge numbers of goldfinches this year, with a fair number of pine siskins mixed in. We've even added two additional thistle seed feeders - like you were saying, I think one of us is going to have to get a second job to pay for all the birdseed. (I hope it's Mr. Geek.)

Sorry Mary. it is a male House Finch. He sure has on his breeding colors early. I quick way to tell the difference between the male House and Purple Finch is the belly stripes. House has them...Purple doesn't.

Def a house finch. Berries are in such abundance in NC this winter that the house finches are extra berry-colored and easily confused for purple finches at a a distance. Purple finches are burly buggers--you'll know it when you see it!

Re an earlier comment: Siskins are northern birds that occasionally irrupt down South. Having a BIG irruption this winter!

I've got nothing but siskins and goldfinches lately. And gloomy clouds, so few photos. Glad to have yours to enjoy instead!

Everyone seems to be talking about Pine Siskins lately. Is that because you usually don't see them in the summertime? This winter is the first time I've EVER seen them! I'll have to get my thistle feeder out, though somehow I doubt they will show. There's not enough protection for them to hide.

Don't you just love the call of the Goldfinches in the Summer? Their squeaks and chips as they fly through the air or sit waiting their turn to eat. Two very lovely birds and apparently good friends : )

That's cool Mary! I hope you get to see the Evening Grosbeaks too--they're one gorgeous birdie!(and I'll tell you why they've all headed south--because it's so freakin' cold in Minnesota, and Wisconsin, and Michigan, yeah, well you get the idea!)

We recently noticed an increase of all three types of birds at our feeders The siskins, goldfinch and housefinches probably dominate the backyardc feeders most of the day!! Such lovely shots of that goldfinch..it looks so serene...waiting his turn!

You caught the goldfinch and pine siskins beautifully, Mary! The siskins were reported a few miles from here and I hope to see one, but I don't think a real life look could be as good as seeing them in your photos.

I have always owned birds, but there is nothing like watching them in the wild. I also have a feeder just outside the window. I always wonder about the birds when I hear of the horrific storms that are hitting the east. Beautiful photo's! Just beautiful!Mona

What do you mean that's it? They were so cute and such wonderful pics! The pine siskin was great because the guidebook and online it's hard to pick them apart from female house finches... in your pics it was clear!

I wondered if I had a male Purple Finch at my feeder whener I would see a House Finch until I was able to actually see one.-The females have that wide white eyebrow that makes them easy to pick out.I agree with your opinion about Goldfinches-they go about the business of eating in an admirable way.

I haven't decided what is feeding on our thistle sack. I thought it was winter coloring on goldfinches, but a few of the birds are the size of goldfinches, only with a shiny dark red cap right at the top of the head, and a small red moon on the throat. They are too small to be redpolls, and not enough rose in the front to be purple finches. Ideas?

It must be a redpoll -- according to my Kaufman field guide, their size is listed as 5" (exactly the same as the goldfinch). I can't think of any other small birdie that would have the red cap and red throat Anonymous is referring to.

I am not sure anymore about it being a redpoll, as their isn't the red spread on the chest; these birds are very splotched with stripes, have a white stripe on wing, deeply notched tail, light colored beak, black feet, and a little scooped black bib. These birds are thin, and the redpolls I used to see were always fatter like chickadees are. They will hang 6 at a time on the suet sacks.